910                                 Laws of Maryland                         [Ch. 613

affected thereby, a notification in writing of such suspension. In
determining whether any proposed change shall be suspended, the
Commission shall give consideration to, among other things, the finan-
cial condition of the carrier, its revenue requirements, and whether
the carrier is being operated economically and efficiently. The period
of suspension shall terminate ninety (90) days after the date on
which the fare, regulation, or practice involved would otherwise go
into effect, unless the Commission extends such period as provided
in paragraph (2).

(2) If, after hearing held upon reasonable notice, the Commission
finds that any fare, regulation or practice relating thereto, so sus-
pended is unjust, unreasonable, or unduly preferential or unduly
discriminatory either between riders or sections of the Metropolitan
District, it shall issue an order prescribing the lawful fare, regula-
tion, or practice to be in effect. The fare, regulation, or practice so
prescribed shall take effect on the date specified in such order. If
such an order has not been issued within the ninety (90) day sus-
pension period provided for in paragraph (1), the Commission may
from time to time extend such period, but in any event the suspension
period shall terminate, no later than one hundred and twenty (120)
days after the date the fare, regulation or practice involved was
suspended. If no such order is issued within the suspension period
(including any extension thereof), the fare, regulation or practice
involved shall take effect at the termination of such period.

(3) In the exercise of its power to prescribe just and reasonable
fares and regulations and practices relating thereto, the Commission
shall give due consideration, among other factors, to the inherent
advantages of transportation by such carriers; to the effect of rates
upon the movement of traffic by the carrier or carriers for which
the rates are prescribed; to the need, in the public interest, of ade-
quate and efficient transportation service by such carriers at the
lowest cost consistent with the furnishing of such service; and to
the need of revenues sufficient to enable such carriers, under honest,
economical, and efficient management, to provide such service.

(4) It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative policy that in
order to assure the Washington Metropolitan District of an adequate
transportation system operating as private enterprises the carriers
therein, in accordance with standards and rules prescribed by the
Commission, should be afforded the opportunity of earning such
return as to make the carriers attractive investments to private
investors. As an incident thereto, the opportunity to earn a return
of at least 6½ per centum net after all taxes properly chargeable to
transportation operations, including but not limited to income taxes,
on gross operating revenues, shall not be considered unreasonable.

(b) Whenever, upon complaint, or upon its own initiative, and
after hearing held upon reasonable notice, the Commission finds that
any individual or joint fare in effect for transportation subject to
this sub-title, or any regulation or practice affecting such fare, is
unjust, unreasonable or unduly preferential or unduly discriminatory,
the Commission shall issue an order prescribing the lawful fare,
regulation, or practice thereafter to be in effect.

Through Routes, Joint Fares.

290. (a) In order to encourage and provide adequate transit service
on a District-wide basis, any carrier may establish through routes